The Starbucks was bustling with the mid-day crowd. A line filled with caffeine junkies and exhausted business men grew serpentine into the street. A platinum haired barista busily blended drinks and barked over the roaring of the machines, "I've got a caramel frap with soy for," he squinted at the name hastily scribbled on the plastic cup, "Sophia?"
"That's me! Excuse me, that's mine!" A woman squeezed herself through the crowd. "Thank you! Finally!" she glowered at him and stomped back into the mass of people.
"You're welcome, bitch," the barista mumbled under his breath.
"Fort!" he hollered, "Can I get some help out here?"
An olive skinned boy came through the back .
"The fuck do you need, Ham," he hissed, his green eyes narrowing to slits.
"Hmm, I don't know. Maybe i need you to actually do your damn job? I am getting slaughtered out h- I'll be there in just a minute ma'am!" Hamlet wiped his hands and glared, "Get off your ass Fort."
Hamlet brushed bast the now pouting Fort, and began to take orders.
"Hello, welcome to Starbucks," Hamlet sighed with faux cheer, not looking away from his register, "How may I-"
"Hey, Hammy!"
Hamlet felt dread in the pit of his stomach. only one person called him that.
Opal.
Opal had been his neighbor and family friend since before either of them could speak. Both her father and Hamlet's step-father had been friends since their college years. Meaning she was always around. She used to have deep brown hair, the kind of brown you'd only see within the deep reaches of the forest, but ever since Hamlet went platinum, she felt she had to change too. To blonde, so that "they would match".
"You should get your roots done," Hamlet tapped aggravated,"They're starting to show." Which was very much an understatement, it was apparent that she had not kept up with bleaching.
"Move along little leach," he sneered, "I'm trying to work here. Next please!"
"Aw, Hammy," she whined, "Aren't you happy to see me?"
Hamlet looked at her with dull eyes. Opal brushed her bleached bangs from her eyes and smiled wide, her blue contacts shining in the fluorescent lighting. Hamlet grimaced. Opal tried to lean over the counter, pushing her breasts together with a pout on her lips.
Hamlet pushed her away. "I'm just going to ring up your usual."
"Thanks, Hammy," she grinned, "I'll see you for dinner!"
Hamlet sighed, "Thank God that's over." He grabbed a clear plastic cup and began writing Opals order. He knew it by heart, bring that she had become a regular since his first day on the job.
"I'll be with you in a minute," he said absentmindedly, to which the consumer replied "Please, take your time."
Hamlet looked up and smiled, and was met by the most dazzling pair of hazel eyes he had ever seen.